1) The story highlights the plight of poor children in India who are deprived of an education and forced to work as child laborers. 2) It describes the living conditions of rag-pickers in Seemapuri slum on the outskirts of Delhi, who live in mud huts with poor sanitation and no access to clean water or sewage systems. 3) It introduces Shaheb-e-Alam, a 10-year old rag-picker with the ironic name "Lord of the Universe," who dreams of going to school and wearing tennis shoes but remains unable to fulfill his dreams due to being a child laborer.

1. VINOD KELOTH PGT ENGLISH KV CHABUA, ASSAM

2. THE LOST SPRiNG BY:-ANEES JUNG

3. LOST SPRING Anees Jung has tried to highlight the plight of life of poor people and the children who are exploited either by their uneducated & poor, helpless parents and the society , who employ them as child laborers. Spring of life refers to happiness. Lost Spring is lost happiness Seemapuri is on the border (periphery) of Delhi where about 10,000 families of rag-pickers live. They have come from Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1971 as their lands and houses were devastated by storm

4. SETTLEMENT AT SEEMAPURI Huts - mud houses, tarpaulin, and tin-roofed, poor sanitation, no safe drinking water, no sewage compelled to live sub-standard life in slum. Though they are on the outskirt of Delhi they are living in a miserable life which in no way can match the life in Delhi. They have ration cards to buy grains and are vote banks for politicians but are compelled to lead a poor life. Both children and elders are rag pickers. Garbage hold different meanings : for elders it is means of livelihood but for children it is gold mine, they get surprises –coins& currency notes. . Children are deprived of schooling, fulfilling their dreams and wearing shoes They are the gang of rag-pickers who move in local areas, bare footed with semi-naked body collecting and carrying bags full of rags

5. SHAHEB-E-ALAM A rag-picker whose name means lord of the universe (is ironical as he is a rag picker) He is 10 years old – has a dream to go to school, wear tennis shoes and play tennis- (unfulfilled dream) Gets a discarded pair of tennis shoes. Later works in a tea stall (Rs. 800/- salary) but is no more master of his own (has no freedom). He is thus unhappy. The weight of tin canister is heavier than the bag of rags

6. GLASS BANGLE FACTORY AT FIROZABAD It is hub for bangle making WORKING PLACE Small huts-dark, no light and very poor ventilation , high temperature, full of smokes- lanes of their shanty town , stink of garbage, hovels of disintegrating walls, unsteady doors no windows, very narrow lane, over crowded with humans and animals Thousands of adults and 20,000 children work there risking their eyes and health. Dust of polishing glass bangles adversely affects their eyes and lungs.

7. ECONOMIC CONDITON Very bad- exploited by Shaahukaars (money lenders), Middleman , politicians, police and bureaucrats All the profits are bagged by them Workers are not allowed to form guilds or worker’s union and are beaten and exploited They are compelled to lead sub-standard, unhealthy and deprived life . Possible hazards- accidents, loss of vision, skin burns, bronchitis physical and mental weakness , and genetic problems due to exposure to chemicals

8. MUKESH A child labour in family profession of bangle making at Firozabad He is daring and different from other young children of Firozabad who have submitted to age-old miseries and traditional profession. Workers do not get even two times meal everyday Mukesh wants to become a motor mechanic and his own master He is ready to travel long way to garage.

9. TEST YOUR COMPREHENSION Q1. Who Is Saheb? What is irony about his name? Q2. Who are the rag pickers of Seemapuri? How does the meaning for garbage differ for elders and children? Q3. Why is the life of slum dwellers of Seemapuri quite different from the life of people living in Delhi? Q4. What are the conditions of the rag-pickers? Q5. What is Saheb’s dream?

10. Q6. Why is Saheb unhappy while working at tea stall? Q7. Who is Mukesh? What is his ambition? Q8. Describe the life of people of Glass bangle factory of Firozabad? Q9. Who exploits the bangle workers of Firozabad? Q10. What is Firozabad is famous for? Q11 . Describe the working condition of bangle making at Firozabad?